1
"Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2
a What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
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b But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
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But you forgers of lies,
c You are all worthless physicians.
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Oh, that you would be silent,
And d it would be your wisdom!
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Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
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e Will you speak 1 wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
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Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
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Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
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He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
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Will not His 2 excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
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Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
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"Hold 3 your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
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Why f do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
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g Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
h Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
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He also shall be my salvation,
For a i hypocrite could not come before Him.
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Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
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See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be j vindicated.
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k Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
20
"Only l two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
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m Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
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Then call, and I will n answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23
How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
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o Why do You hide Your face,
And p regard me as Your enemy?
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q Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
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For You write bitter things against me,
And r make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
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s You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You 4 set a limit for the 5 soles of my feet.
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" Man 6 decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.